Another highlight will be the popular girl-band Zeb and Hanya from the conflict-torn Peshawar in Pakistam.

Zeb and Hanya’s debut album “Chup (Hush)”, which received glowing reviews in Pakistan, has been described by critics as a new canon of jazz-influenced numbers and blues in Urdu. All songs in the album, barring one, were written by Haniya and Zeb. Their songs are influenced by the classical tradition of the Indian subcontinent, Latin and West African grooves, American folk and blues.

The other bands include Bohemian (Bangladesh), Metal Zone Oasis Band (Myanmar), Kingdom Hum (Bhutan), The Maldivian (Maldives), Thriloka (Sri Lanka), Fanoos (Afghanistan) and Robin and The New Revolution (Nepal), all of whom are making their debut at the South Asian Bands festival.

ICCR director-general Suresh Goel said: “South Asian Bands Festival has emerged as one of the most popular festivals of ICCR.”

He said the festival was one of the most important initiatives of ICCR aimed to reach out to the the youth to create amongst them an articulate consciousness of south Asian regional cultural themes.